Chiara Boschis

E.Pira di Chiara Boschis, Piedmont

Since Chiara Boschis took over in 1980 after the tragic passing of Luigi Pira, the last member of the historic family, she's really spruced up this Barolo wine estate. Now it's sitting pretty at 8.5 hectares with 35,000 bottles, and half of it is Nebbiolo. The place is always buzzing with activity and change, especially since her brother Giorgio joined her from Borgogno a couple of years back. They've even expanded with new vineyards in Monforte dAlba and started renting a plot in Serralungas Gabutti.

The heart of the estate lies in two key vineyards: Cannubi & Via Nuova. Cannubi, facing southwest, is legendary in Barolo, and Chiara's got her hands on a fair few rows there. Just to clear things up, this isn't Cannubi Boschis or Cannubi Muscatel. They've made some upgrades too, like adding new French oak botte grande and building a new storage bunker at their Barolo cellar.

Then there's the petite Via Nuova site, facing southeast, just behind the winery. It's been around since 1904, lining the path to Novello, but its vines are a bit younger at 16 years. The winemaking process is all modernized now in their recently renovated cellar, with Chiara keeping a close eye on everything. You'll still see those big rotofermentors dominating the cellar, though maybe they're not as rowdy as they used to be.

And don't forget about Chiara's side hustle with the cows in Castelmagno, or rather her brother Cesare's handling that now. Plus, in 2013, they added a new Barolo to their lineup: Mosconi, a stellar single vineyard Barolo from Monforte dAlba.

Chiara's got this infectious energy, always tackling life head-on, and it shows in her wines. She's always tweaking and refining them, but her unwavering belief in the sanctity of the vineyards stays the same. That dedication shines through in every sip of her irresistibly charming wines. She's definitely a modern Barolo producer heading in the right direction.